“How did it go?”
Retvik rubbed his eyes as he entered the waiting room, a wooden door closing behind him.
“What are you doing here, Gath?”
“I came to see how you are doing!” Gath smiled, scooting over on the tattered, fake leather-wrapped bench so Retvik could sit down.
“Do you not have… planning to do?”
Gath smiled some more, waiting for Retvik to sit. “I have done all my planning. Everything has been arranged, everything is ready to go. I have time to sit here and wait for you to come out of your therapy session so I can take you somewhere nice for lunch.”
Retvik sighed, finally slumping down next to Gath, putting his head in his hands. Gath could immediately tell that something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“A lot happened. I am still trying to digest it all. There is… a lot of trauma. A lot I do not understand. I do not know where the dream began and where it ended. And I spend far too long worrying about Trismit.”
Gath nodded in understanding. “I heard you helped bring him home yesterday.”
“I did. And I am… terrified that I will get a call at some point, either from officers telling me that they cannot find Trismit or from Trismit himself, telling me that he is about to end his own life. Considering what he has been through and… what he has said… He has seen so much pain. I want to help him, even if it means disregarding myself… I cannot…” Retvik paused, sighing deeply. “I should not… be talking about this. Not to you. Not about him.”
“And why not?”
“Because it is private. There are some things I do not with to burden you with, Gath. Horrible things that I have experienced and need to keep outside.”
Gath shrugged. He understood what Retvik was talking about and didn’t want to press any further. But something was troubling him. “May I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“How old is Trismit?”
Retvik hesitated. “Trismit does not know himself, so he and I both assume about thirty.”
“Hm. Too old to officially adopt then…”
“Ye- wait, what?”
Gath shrugged. “You are talking and treating Trismit as if he is a child. He is clearly lacking in family figures. I was wondering whether you are acting like a father figure because you subconsciously know he needs one. I am just considering potential solutions. He seems younger than thirty.”
“What?” Retvik repeated himself.
“He needs family. You have a desire for family. We can arrange something, can we not?”
Retvik shook his head. “I appreciate the thought, Gath, but we… no… not yet. I would need to discuss it with both Trismit and our handlers first as well…”
Gath shrugged some more, then patted Retvik on the shoulder and lifted him to his feet. “Well alright. That is fair. Let us go and buy some lunch and discuss more… happy things.”
Retvik finally smiled. “Yes, that is a great idea…”